Instructor: Ericka Ledferd
Office: Gamma House D-110
Hours: M-W-F 3:50pm-4:30pm, T-TH 7:30am-8:30am or by appointment
Email: [email protected] (Important note: I will respond to emails within 24 hours during the
work week and by the next business day on weekends and holidays.)
Textbook and materials
Destinos (Course & Video The Annenberg Foundation)
• Diccionarios/Dictionaries
http://www.diccionarios.com/
DLE Dictionary
http://www.diccionariodesinonimos.es/
• Gramática/Grammar Tutorials and Exercises
http://www.indiana.edu/~call/lengua.html
http://www.trentu.ca/academic/modernlanguages/spanish/masarriba/
http://www.studyspanish.com/tutorial.htm
Course description
Spanish 131 is an introduction to the Spanish language and to the cultures of the Spanish speaking
world. Linguistically, this course focuses on the four abilities necessary for mastering a foreign language:
listening, speaking, reading and writing. We understand that the cultural component is just as important
as the linguistic one for learning to communicate effectively; therefore, students will also be introduced
to the diverse cultures of the Hispanic world. Spanish will be used in class for practical purposes;
however, English will also be employed to explain complex concepts.
FALL 2016 SPA 131.91E.
Elementary Spanish I Department of Literature & Languages
Texas A&M University – Commerce
Catalog Description Pronunciation, elements of grammar and vocabulary; conversation and composition
based on situations in everyday life. Emphasis on the spoken language. Introduction to Spanish culture.
Student Learning Outcomes: Students who successfully complete the course will:
• Appropriate use core vocabulary related to self-description, routines, work, daily routines and travel
• Acquire basic communicative skills in Spanish for everyday situations
• Understand beginner-to intermediate level spoken and written Spanish discourse
• Identify, compare and appreciate cultural products, perspectives and practices in the Spanish speaking
world. By completing this outcome students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the
interconnectedness of global dynamics (issues, processes, trends, and systems). These learning outcome
will be measured during the semester through the individual projects and in the final oral individual
interview. See e-College for more information.
Grade distribution:
Projects 36% (3x12)
Quizzes (reading and listening) 24% (6x4)
Online HW 12%
Interviews 12% (3x4)
Final oral exam 16%
Total 100%
Grade Scale:
A=100-90
B=89-80
C=79-70
D=69-60
F= 59>
Course Workload
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1. Attendance & Participation
Participation and attendance are fundamental to succeed in this course. Attendance is mandatory. After
six absences, you may be dropped from the course, depending on circumstances. Absences due to
illness or unexpected situations count as absences. The only justified absences are those resulting from
mandatory participation in university events, hospitalization, or family emergencies of which the
instructor has been notified. Please note that there is no participation grade given in this course;
however, after three unexcused absences, your final grade will be reduced by 2 points per absence. Late
work is not accepted. Exams and quizzes cannot be made up.
You should arrive on time. Two late arrivals or early departures by more than 15 minutes equal one
absence. If a student arrives late, she/he needs to talk to the professor at the end of class to make sure
that a tardy mark was registered in the class book instead of an absence. If a student misses 3
consecutive sessions and does not contact the instructor, she/he may be dropped from class. You should
not make travel/family /employment plans that interfere with classes or exams since make up exams
cannot be made in order to accommodate such plans.
Student athletes, band members and members of other university sanctions should bring a letter from
their supervisor or specific department during the first week of class indicating the dates they will miss
class.
Students who require special accommodations for religious holidays should make arrangements with
their instructor during the first week of class.
2. PROJECTS (36 % of the final grade)
You will complete three individual projects that include writing and oral content utilizing all language
content practiced during the semester. Project based learning is a way to allow you to become more
comfortable using Spanish in different communicative settings.
3. QUIZZES (24% of the final grade)
The quizzes will focus on understanding of spoken and written Spanish. The quizzes are good tools for
you to verify your understanding of the content, and to increase your Spanish comprehension.
4. FINAL ORAL EXAM (16% of the final grade)
An oral proficiency exam will be conducted at the end of the semester to measure your speaking level.
The oral exam will consist of an interview on topics presented in class, including cultural information.
You will prepare by actively participating in all class sessions and attending the conversation meeting
practice.
5. ONLINE HOMEWORK (12% of the final grade)
Homework is assigned every session to provide you with additional practice and review of the material.
You are responsible for completing the assignments by the due dates.
6. INTERVIEW (12% of the final grade)
You will complete three interviews with me. Students must visit me before each deadline and maintain a
conversation of about 15 minutes. Topics depend on the material covered in class. Any other topics that
students may want to bring in are welcome. Students will have to carry the weight of the conversation.
You will set up an appointment for each one of the three interviews.
Tentative Schedule
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This course schedule is subject to revisions and changes as the instructor deems necessary. Any changes
to the course schedule will be announced in advance.
Week I - August 21-26
Vocabulary and Pronunciation Saludos y expresiones de cortesía Más expresiones de cortesía El alfabeto español Los cognados
Week II - August 29 - September 2
¿Cómo es usted?
Los números del 0 al 30
Hay
El género y los números
Los gustos y preferencias
¿Qué hora es?
Los saludos en el mundo hispano
¡Aquí se habla español!
A LEER: La geografía del mundo hispano
En la Universidad
Week III - September 5-9
Grammar
Naming People, Places, Things, and Ideas / Singular Nouns: Gender and
Articles
Naming People, Places, Things, and Ideas / Nouns and Articles: Plural
Forms Expressing Actions • Subject Pronouns / Present Tense of -ar Verbs;
Negation
Cómo expresar las partes del día
El verbo estar
Getting Information
Asking Yes/No Questions
Week IV - September 12-16
¡Qué bacán!
A ESCUCHAR
Un anuncio
¡Música! Jennifer Lopez
A ESCRIBIR: Este semestre
A LEER: Las universidades en el mundo hispano
UN POCO DE TODO: Lengua y cultura, Méjico / Argentina / Perú
Lectura cultural, Los Estados Unidos, En otros países hispanohablantes
Tres símbolos latinos en los Estados Unidos
La bodega
Un anuncio de Inglés USA
Week V - September 19-23
La familia y los parientes / Los números del 31-100
Cómo expresar la edad: tener…años / Los adjetivos
Pronunciación Stress and Written Accent Marks
Describing • Adjectives: Gender, Number, and Position
Otras nacionalidades, Expressing to be • Present Tense of ser; Summary of Uses
La contracción / Nota comunicativa Cómo dar explicaciones
Grammar
· Describing • Adjectives: Gender, Number, and Position
o Nota comunicativa Otras nacionalidades
· Expressing to be • Present Tense of ser; Summary of Uses
o Nota comunicativa La contracción / Cómo dar explicaciones
· Expressing Possession • Unstressed Possessive
· Adjectives
· Expressing Actions • Present Tense of -er and -ir
· Verbs; Subject Pronouns
Week VI - September 26-30
Padres modernos
A ESCUCHAR: Mi familia
¡Música! Mark Anthony
A LEER: Lectura cultural, Méjico
En otros países hispanos / Chile / Argentina y España
Tres símbolos mexicanos: la bandera y el himno nacional, la tortilla de maíz, los centros
arqueológicos, una importante figura histórica del mundo hispano
Lectura: Puerto Rico
Week VII - October 3-7
De compras: La ropa
Nota comunicativa Preguntas
Los colores: ¿De qué color es?
La ropa en el mundo hispano
Los números a partir del 100-1000
Pronunciación Stress and Written Accent Marks
Grammar
· Pointing Out People and Things • Demonstrative
· Adjectives and Pronouns
· Expressing Actions and States /tener, venir, poder, preferir, querer; some Idioms
with tener / Mucho y poco / Expressing Destination and Future Actions • Ir; The
Contraction al; Ir / Infinitive
Week VIII - October 10-14
¡Moda, moda, moda!
A ESCUCHAR: Una llamada telefónica para ir de compras a las rebajas
¡Música! Shakira
A ESCRIBIR: El estilo del campus: Información para los nuevos estudiantes universitarios
NOTA CULTURAL: La ropa en el mundo hispano
UN POCO DE TODO Lengua y cultura Pero, ¿no se puede regatear
A LEER: Lectura cultural Guatemala y Honduras / En otros países hispanos
• En todo el mundo hispanohablante / En Cuba / Tres símbolos guatemaltecos y
hondureños
• El Popol Vuh / Los tamales y las tortillas de maíz / Los productos agrícolas
Una cita / Del mundo hispano
Lectura: Tecnologia
Week IX - October 17-21
Los muebles, los cuartos y otras partes de la casa
¿Qué día es hoy? Cómo expresar ‘on’ con los días de la semana
¿Cuándo?: Las proposiciones
Grammar
· Expressing Actions • Hacer, oír, poner, salir, traer, ver
· Expressing Actions • Present Tense of Stem-changing Verbs
· Expressing self / selves • Reflexive Pronouns
Cómo expresar una secuencia de acciones
Week X - October 25-29
Vivir con la familia
A ESCUCHAR: Una conversación para amueblar un nuevo apartamento
¡Música! Luis Miguel
A ESCRIBIR: Una semana típica para estudiantes universitarios
Las casas en el mundo hispano /Lectura: Anuncios de bienes raíces
UN POCO DE TODO: Lengua y cultura Una tradición extendida— México / El Salvador y
Nicaragua
En otros países hispanos / En todo el mundo hispanohablante / En Centroamérica y Sudamérica
Tres símbolos salvadoreños y nicaragüenses: El volcán Izalco / El lago de Nicaragua / La marimba
Week XI - October 31- November 1-4
Las estaciones y el tiempo
¿Qué tiempo hace hoy?
Nota comunicativa Otras expresiones con tener
Los meses y las estaciones del año
¿Dónde está? / Las preposiciones
Nota comunicativa Los pronombres preposicionales
Grammar
· ¿Qué están haciendo? / Present Progressive: Estar 1 -ndo
Nota comunicativa El gerundio con otros verbos
· ¿Ser o estar? / Summary of the Uses of ser and estar
Nota comunicativa El uso de adjetivos
· Describing / Comparisons
Week XII - November 7-11
En la Mitad del Mundo
A ESCUCHAR: El pronóstico del tiempo
¡Música!
A ESCRIBIR: Las estaciones y el tiempo
El clima en el mundo hispano / Lengua y cultura Dos hemisferios
Lectura cultural: Costa Rica / En otros países hispanos / En todo el mundo hispanohablante / En
Colombia / En España / Tres símbolos costarricenses / La paz /La democracia / La carreta
Un concepto importante / Lectura: ¿Se pueden usar calendarios de otros años?
¡A comer!
La comida y las comidas
Más vocabulario para hablar de las comidas
¿Qué sabe Ud. y a quién conoce?
Grammar
· Expressing to who(m) or for who(m) • Indirect Object
· Pronouns; Dar and decir
· Expressing Likes and Dislikes • Gustar
Nota comunicativa Otros verbos que expresan los
· gustos y preferencias
· Talking About the Past • Preterite of Regular Verbs and of dar, hacer, ir, and ser
Week XIII - November 14-18
¡A comer!
La comida y las comidas / Más vocabulario para hablar de la Comida
¿Qué sabe Ud. y a quién conoce
Grammar
· Expressing to who(m) or for who(m) • Indirect Object
· Pronouns; Dar and decir
· Expressing Likes and Dislikes • Gustar
Nota comunicativa: Otros verbos que expresan los
· gustos y preferencias
· Talking About the Past / Preterite of Regular Verbs and of dar, hacer, ir, and ser
Week XIV - November 21-25
-------THANKSGIVING BREAK----------
Week XV - November 28 - December 1-2
¡Qué rico!
A ESCUCHAR: En un restaurante
¡Música! TBA
A ESCRIBIR: La comida en las cafeterías de esta escuela
UN POCO DE TODO Lengua y cultura La cocina panameña
Lectura cultural / Panamá / En otros países hispanos
En los Estados Unidos: Tres símbolos panameños / El Canal de Panamá / La bandera panameña /
La pollera y el montuno
Una figura importante / Lectura: TBA
Week XVI - December 5-9
Partial Exam: PBL / TBA
Final Exam: Multiple choice and short answer essay TBA
General Policies
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1. Late work
This is an intense course with no extended deadlines. No late work will be accepted in this course,
without exceptions. Work should be submitted by midnight (CT) on the due date provided in the class
schedule. Failure to submit an assignment on time will result in a zero (F) grade. In the case of an
emergency or other reasonable situation which may affect your submissions, please contact me
immediately.
2. Academic Dishonesty
Plagiarism is borrowing (stealing) the work of others and not giving credit where credit is due. It is
unethical and reflects very poorly on a person’s character. Copying someone else's work, or asking a
friend or tutor to write your work constitutes a violation of the TAMUC Academic Honesty Policy.
Likewise, the use of electronic media to translate your work to Spanish is also unacceptable.
Undergraduate students at Texas A&M University-Commerce are expected to maintain high standards
of integrity and honesty in all of their scholastic work. Faculty and staff are expected to uphold and
support student integrity and honesty by maintaining conditions that encourage and enforce academic
honesty. Conduct that violates generally accepted standards of academic honesty is defined as academic
dishonesty (see definitions). In addition, F-1 and J-1 international students must comply with the
Student Exchange Visitor Program regulation related to their visa status. Penalties for students guilty of
academic dishonesty include disciplinary probation, suspension, and expulsion (Texas A&M University-
Commerce Regulation 13.99.99.R0.03 ‘Undergraduate Academic Dishonesty’). For further information
please see the Academic Honesty statement of the Department of Literature and Languages below.
3. Students with Disabilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal antidiscrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation
requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for
reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you have a disability requiring an accommodation,
please contact:
Office of Student Disability Resources and Services Texas A&M University-Commerce Gee Library, Room
132 Phone (903) 886-5150 / (903) 886-5835 [email protected]
www.tamuc.edu/CampusLife/CampusServices/studentDisabilityResourcesAndServices/defa ult.aspx
4. Student Conduct and Discriminatory Behavior
All students enrolled at the University shall follow the tenets of common decency and acceptable
behavior conducive to a positive learning environment. (See Code of Student Conduct from Student
Guide Handbook). Students also should consult the Rules of Netiquette for more information regarding
how to interact with students in an online environment:
http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
A&M-Commerce will comply in the classroom, in the campus, and in online courses, with all federal and
state laws prohibiting discrimination and related retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, sex,
national origin, disability, age, genetic information or veteran status. Further, an environment free from
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression will be
maintained.
Technology Requirements for Web-Enhanced / Online courses
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To fully take advantage of the LearningStudio platform tools, you will need regular access to a computer
with a broadband Internet connection. The minimum computer requirements are:
• 512 MB of RAM, 1 GB or more preferred
• Broadband connection required courses are heavily video intensive
• Video display capable of high-color 16-bit display 1024 x 768 or higher resolution
• Sound card, which is usually integrated into your desktop or laptop computer
• Speakers or headphones.
• Microphone
• Internet connection is necessary to participate in discussions and assignments, access readings,
transfer course work, and receive feedback from your professor.
• Current, Flash enabled browser. For PC users, the suggested browser is Internet Explorer 9.0 or 10. For
Mac users, the most current update of Firefox is suggested.
For courses where interactive tools are used, like VoiceThread or ClassLive Pro, headphones are
suggested for use with recording and playback. We recommend a webcam with an integrated
microphone, such as the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema. All devices should be installed and configured
before class begins.
Both versions of Java (32 bit and 64 bit) must be installed and up to date on your machine. Java can be
downloaded at: http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp. Current anti-virus software must be
installed and kept up to date. You will need some additional free software for enhanced web browsing.
Ensure that you download the free versions of the following software: Adobe Reader & Adobe Flash
Player
At a minimum, you must have Microsoft Office 2013, 2010, 2007 or Open Office. Microsoft Office is the
standard office productivity software utilized by faculty, students, and staff. Microsoft Word is the
standard word processing software, Microsoft Excel is the standard spreadsheet software, and
Microsoft PowerPoint is the standard presentation software. Copying and pasting, along with
attaching/uploading documents for assignment submission, will also be required. If you do not have
Microsoft Office, you can check with the bookstore to see if they have any student copies.
For additional information: https://secure.ecollege.com/tamuc/index.learn?action=technical
Pearson LearningStudio (e-College) Access and Navigation
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1) Pearson LearningStudio (eCollege) Information
This course will be facilitated using Pearson LearningStudio, the learning management system used by
Texas A&M University-Commerce. To get started with the course, go to:
http://www.tamuc.edu/myleo.aspx. You will need your CWID and password to log in to the course. If
you do not know your CWID or have forgotten your password, contact Technology Services at
903.468.6000 or [email protected]. It is strongly recommended that you perform a “Browser Test”
prior to the start of your course. To launch a browser test, login to Pearson LearningStudio, click on the
‘myCourses’ tab, and then select the “Browser Test” link under Support Services.
2) Pearson LearningStudio Student Technical Support
Texas A&M University-Commerce provides students technical support in the use of Pearson
LearningStudio. Technical assistance is available 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. If at any time you
experience technical problems (e.g., you can't log in to the course, you can't see certain material, etc.)
please contact the Pearson Learning Studio Help Desk, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week:
• Chat Support: Click on 'Live Support' on the tool bar within your course to chat with a Pearson
LearningStudio Representative.
• Phone: 1-866-656-5511 (Toll Free) to speak with Pearson LearningStudio Technical Support
Representative.
• Email: [email protected] to initiate a support request with Pearson LearningStudio Technical
Support Representative.
3) Accessing Help from within Your Course:
Click on the 'Tech Support' icon on the upper left side of the screen inside the course. You will then be
able to get assistance via online chat, email or by phone by calling the Help Desk number noted below.
Note: Personal computer problems do not excuse the requirement to complete all course work in a
timely and satisfactory manner. Each student needs to have a backup method to deal with these
inevitable problems. These methods might include the availability of a backup PC at home or work, the
temporary use of a computer at a friend's home, the local library, office service companies, an Internet
cafe, or a bookstore, such as Barnes & Noble, etc.
4) Policy for Reporting Problems with Pearson LearningStudio
Should students encounter Pearson Learning Studio based problems while submitting
assignments/discussions/comments/exams, the following procedure MUST be followed: a. Students
must report the problem to the Help Desk. You may reach the helpdesk at
[email protected] or 1-866-656-5511. b. Students MUST file their problem with the helpdesk
and obtain a helpdesk ticket number. c. Once a helpdesk ticket number is provided, students should
email the instructor to advise of the problem and to provide with the helpdesk ticket number. d. At that
time, the instructor will call the helpdesk to confirm the problem and follow up with you.
Academic Dishonesty Appendix
Department of Literature and Languages Texas A&M University-Commerce Policy #12 April 28, 2003 ACADEMIC HONESTY Preamble. Students at Texas A&M University-Commerce are expected to maintain high standards of integrity and honesty in all their scholastic work. Faculty members are expected to employ teaching practices that encourage academic honesty. 1. Academic Dishonesty Defined. Texas A&M University-Commerce defines “academic dishonesty” in the following way (Procedure A13.12 “Academic Honesty”): Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism (the appropriation or stealing of the ideas or words of another and passing them off as one's own), cheating on exams or other course assignments, collusion (the unauthorized collaboration with others in preparing course assignments), and abuse (destruction, defacing, or removal) of resource material. 2. “Plagiarism” Further Specified. The Department of Literature and Languages builds on the university definition of “plagiarism,” given in 1, in the following manner (taken from “Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The Council of Writing Program Administrators’ Statement on Best Practices” undated, pages 1-2, 12,2003. http://www.ilstu.edu/~ddhesse/wpa/positions/WPAplagiarism.pdf) Plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source. [. . .] Ethical writers make every effort to acknowledge sources fully and appropriately in accordance with the contexts and genres of their writing. A student who attempts (even if clumsily) to identify and credit his or her source, but who misuses a specific citation format or incorrectly uses quotation marks or other forms of identifying material taken from other sources, has not plagiarized. Instead, such a student should be considered to have failed to cite and document sources appropriately. 3. “Collusion” Further Specified. Collusion specifically includes selling academic products. According to the Texas Penal Code (Title 7 Offenses Against Property, Chapter 32 Fraud, § 32.50 Deceptive Preparation and Marketing of Academic Product), an “‘academic product’ means a term paper, thesis, dissertation, essay, report, recording, work of art, or other written, recorded, pictorial, or artistic product or material submitted or intended to be submitted by a person to satisfy an
academic requirement of the person.” The Texas Penal Code also specifies that person commits a Class C misdemeanor offense “if, with intent to make a profit, the person prepares, sells, offers or advertises for sale, or delivers to another person an academic product when the person knows, or should reasonably have known, that a person intends to submit or use the academic product to satisfy an academic requirement of a person other than the person who prepared the product.” 4. Responsibility. Matters of academic dishonesty are handled initially by the instructor. If the instructor feels the problem warrants more attention, it should then be pursued through the department head. If the department head and instructor wish, it should be brought to the attention of the Dean of the college for study and review before being referred to the University Discipline Committee (adapted from Texas A&M University-Commerce Procedure A13.04, “Plagiarism”). Instructors may also choose to refer cases directly to the University Discipline Committee (Texas A&M University-Commerce Code of Student Conduct 6.a [2]). 5. Statement for Course Outlines. Instructors of record in the Department of Literature and Languages are required to include an Academic Honesty statement in all course outlines. The following language is suggested for that statement: Instructors in the Department of Literature and Languages do not tolerate plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. Instructors uphold and support the highest academic standards, and students are expected to do likewise. Penalties for students guilty of academic dishonesty include disciplinary probation, suspension, and expulsion. (Texas A&M University-Commerce Code of Student Conduct 5.b [1,2,3]) 6. This Policy supersedes Department of Literature and Languages Policy #12, “Plagiarism,” dated October 10, 1990, and will be effective until further notice. 7. The Head of the Department of Literature and Languages is responsible for maintaining this policy current. Dr. Hunter Hayes, Head, Department of Literature and Languages April 28, 2003